DUBAI // A Palestinian man convicted of hitting a policeman on his motorbike with his car as he sped away from a police checkpointpleaded for mercy in court today, insisting he had panicked and not tried to hit the officer.
Court records show that FO, 47, was stopped at a police check point on August 7 last year. He presented his licence and registration, but then suddenly drove off at speed.
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FO told the Dubai Court of Misdemeanour Appeals that he had not intended to flee. "I knew I had police complaints filed against me, your honour, for several cheques," he told the Dubai Court of Misdemeanour Appeals. "So when I was stopped by the checkpoint I realised I would be going to jail."
"I saw jail bars ahead and panicked and drove off," he added.
Another officer gave chase on a motorcycle, and during the chase FO swerved off the road, hitting the officer and damaging the motorbike, prosecutors say.
FO, however, denies he hit anyone. "They were behind me, yes, but I did not swerve on them or try to hit their bikes."
He was found guilty of assaulting a police officer, endangering his life and damaging public property on March 29, and sentenced to a month in jail. The Appeal Court will rule on July 27.
amustafa@thenational.ae
